12 Stones Add Headlining Off-Dates

12 Stones has announced a few Daughtry "off-dates." The tour dates are:

July 30th in Jackson, MS @ Club Fire w/ Strata, Sick Puppies
August 2nd in Atlanta, GA @ The Roxy
August 3rd in St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre w/ Saliva
August 4th in Cape Coral, FL @ Martini's Rock Club w/ Saliva
August 5th in Port St. Lucie, FL @ Mojo Room
August 15th in Traverse City, MI @ Streeters
August 16th in Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
August 18th in Lawrence, OH @ Clay's Park Amphitheater
August 19th in Cookeville, TN @ Sisco's Mix Factory

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Incineration Post New Song Online

Death metallers, INCINERATION, post the following update on their myspace page:

"Check out the songs on our page because they are THE shit thanks to the pristine production courtesy of Geoff Sprock.

The release date for our EP is still up in the air because we are going to record a few more songs in August/September after the tour. We're also recording an acoustic version of a death metal song for a compilation in the U.K. by Roxx Productions. We have a good idea of what we're going to play and its going to be brutal acoustic style. Last but certainly not least, we have a new guitar player in the band finally, his name is Olin and he fucking smokes! He'll be on the road with us across the East coast next month."

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Lanfear Post Medley Of New Songs Online

German power metallers LANFEAR entered Dreamscape studios in Munich, Germany on April 23 to begin recording their new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. A "medley" of the first four tracks that were mixed for the CD has been uploaded to the band's MySpace page.

LANFEAR's fourth CD, "Another Golden Rage" (2005), was recorded at Dreamscape studios and featured a lyrical theme that was a continuation of the story which began on the title track of 2003's "The Art Effect".

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Queensryche Do Acoustic In Store Set

QUEENSRŸCHE played a five-song acoustic set earlier today (Saturday, July 21) at Looney Tunes in West Babylon, New York. According to AnybodyListening.net, the setlist for the performance was as follows:

01. Sign of the Times
02. Bridge
03. The Hands
04. Until There Was You
05. Eyes of a Stranger

The event was reportedly professionaly recorded for a possible CD or DVD.

Following the set, the band held an autograph session for attendees.

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Devian Signs To Century Media Records

Century Media has announce the recent addition of Swedish melodic Death/Black Metallers DEVIAN to the label’s diverse roster. DEVIAN was originally founded by former Marduk members Legion (Vocals) and Emil Dragutinovic (Drums) after their departure from the Black Metal commando in their strife to come up with a new breed of wretched Scandinavian Metal. Together with guitarists Joinus, Markus Lundberg (both members of Sargathanas Reign) and bassplayer Tomas Nilsson, DEVIAN form an unstoppable organic extreme Metal machine driven by a raving hunger and deadset determination.

Bandleader Legion comments on the signing with CM as follows: “Speaking for the whole band, I want to say that we’re psyched, to say the least, about initiating the DEVIAN onslaught on such a killer label as Century Media. We are all fans of the label and the music they’ve put out during the years. Having worked with them for some releases during the Marduk years, I know they always did a job well done to a fault. We couldn’t have found ourselves a better label home.”

DEVIAN have finished tracking their upcoming debut album at Sweden’s Art Decay Studio, whereas mixing duties were handled by sound-wizard Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman (At The Gates, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir, etc.). DEVIAN’s debut will be entitled “Ninewinged Serpent” and is tentatively set for release via Century Media Records by October 2007.

Legion adds the following about the album: “It’s a pummeling blackened death thrasher, where we really tried to challenge ourselves and bring fresh elements to the music compared to our efforts in previous projects, and I’d say we managed to achieve that. What at first looked to be mine and Emil’s continuation of “World Funeral” grew into a much more multifaceted sound and we loved taking it in that direction and really making it all it could be. It’s no-bullshit raving metal straight from the heart charged with uncontrollable anger, haunting melodies and bone crushing heaviness. It’s got a lot of power and soul and we are all extremely proud of what we’ve managed to achieve.”

You can visit the band’s newly created myspace profile to check out a preproduction medley (more tracks are expected soon).

Here is the DEVIAN line-up:
Legion - Vocals
Joinus - Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Markus Lundberg - Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Tomas Nilsson - Bass Guitar
Emil Dragutinovic - Drums

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Waysted Announce New Album Title

WAYSTED, the reunited semi-obscure mid-'80s British heavy metal outfit led by UFO bassist Pete Way (hence the spelling of the group's name), has set "The Harsh Reality" as the title of its new album, due in October via U.K.'s Livewire Records. The CD will feature the band's "classic" lineup of Pete Way, Fin (vocals), Chris George (guitar) and Paul Haslin (drums).

Check out new band photos at this location.

WAYSTED's latest CD, "Back from the Dead", was issued in 2005 via Majestic Rock Records.

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Indianapolis Metal Fest I Information Revealed

Indianapolis Metal Fest I is officially scheduled for September 22nd. The festival will take place at two venues in Indianapolis, Indiana: the KOC Grand Ballroom (all ages) and Birdie's Live (21+). Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and good for both venues for those at least 21 years of age. Here's the line-up for Indianapolis Metal Fest I:

Obituary
Full Blown Chaos
Alabama Thunderpussy
Temple Of Brutality
Daath
Beneath The Sky
Emmure
Destrophy
Hemlock
Single Bullet Theory
Ashes Of Your Enemy

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Ozzy Launches "Not Going Away" Video Contest

Ozzy was so happy with the submissions for his last video contest, that he wants to do the same for "Not Going Away." Ozzy and his band shot performance footage of the entire song on green screen from multiple camera angles. Footage (and rules) is posted here for you to download. The director can download performance footage and other digital assets and then make your own video using your preferred type of video editing software. Use all of your own footage, use some of the band's, it's all up to you.

The winner will win a chance to meet Ozzy and have your video premiere on Myspace Music.

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Into Eternity Ready To Open Dream Theater Tour

Into Eternity has issued the following report prior to embarking on tour with Dream Theater:

"Our drummer Steve flew in from Boston last week so we could start heavy rehearsals for the Dream Theater Tour. Everything is going well and the set is going smoothly. I think we will have around 35 minutes for a set, so we hope everybody will come early, because we are opening this tour!"

"We also have a couple of new off dates booked, so I hope we'll see everyone out at those as well. On August 15th the side date is with the band Daath and August 19th we are playing with Nile. Those should be some interesting shows. Hopefully we'll be heavy enough for those gigs....ha. We will see you all very soon on the road."

Here are the latest Into Eternity tour dates according to the band's website: More...

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Cursed Finished Recording New Album

Cursed vocalist Chris Colohan has written the following statement regarding the band's upcoming new album III, which will be released through Goodfellow Records. An official release date for the album will be confirmed shortly, but here is some information on the album, including song titles and production information:

"Okay. So here's an official statement, as our website has fallen a bit behind. All of III is now recorded, and 80% mixed as of today. It was engineered by our sound bro Donny Cooper (who recorded both the Hell Comes Home and Blackout at Sunrise EPs) and Paul Aucoin at HallaMusic in Toronto, and is being mixed by the great Pete Hudson. The tracks, not necessarily in this order, are:

III: Architects of Troubled Sleep
Night Terrors
Antihero Resuscitator (with COLISEUM's Ryan Patterson)
The Hands Will Abide
Dead Air At The Pulpit
Friends In The Music Business
Into The Hive
Magic Fingers
Unnecessary Person
Hegel's Bastards
Gutters

"...So there, it's real. Thanks to everyone's interest despite the really low profile we've been working in. Honestly, right now, we just want to make songs. The Business makes our heads spin. Thanks so much to Chris Logan (and all Goodfellow crew) for giving a shit and still being a nerd for the music he puts out. Our site should be back up to speed soon, with videos. Donny's been making a video of the III studio sessions, he might cut it together and put it on YouTube so you all can check it out if you want to really smell the fuckin' magic."

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Headline News

Calico System Calls It Quits

St. Louis metal/hardcore/rock outfit Calico System has apparently broken up. Guitarist Rick Giordano has issued the following statement:

"Well there is no IS really, we already have. Reasons? You want reasons? I don't have to explain myself to you!! But I'll sum it up by saying that it just didn't make sense to remain a band anymore. Music rules, but the music BUSINESS sucks and had taken its toll on all of us. A farewell tour will be happening. I can't say when or where yet, but it will happen. We hope to hit a handful of select cities possibly this fall to party with all our friends one last time. And to answer the most common email/comment questions we recieve... NO, you cannot find the CD anywhere. We're not happy about it either (biting tongue...) because we're really proud of the fucking thing! Good thing there's Internet downloading! And NO, we're not playing whatever show you saw us listed on on some other band's page or flyer or whatever. We have no upcoming shows. I can almost hear the applause from the kids on Lambgoat..."

Original guitarist Shawn Keith shortly afterward issued his own statement regarding the band's break-up:

"I figured I would chime in here seeing that both myself and Erik quit the band prior to the demise. When we got signed back in 2003 everything about the music and scene was completely different. You did not have Myspace to blow your band up and you actually had to have a record deal before any type of hype could be built around you band other than touring. We booked DIY tours early on before we were signed and put in the work. We toured probably more than a lot of bands EVER did and I am proud of the accomplishments that we made. It was a lot of blood sweat and tears but at the end of the day when everything is pointing against you then you just have to simply say 'it is time to move on. Erik and I quit back in February to pursue other interest in music and in our personal lives. We got to a point where we were not as passionate about it as we once were... Our label slapped a sounds like 'new breed of metalcore' sticker on the front of our new record and that is something we wanted to stray away from completely. Now when Deathcore is it fact the new 'cool' thing we decided we did not want any part of it. Even though both Erik and I are no longer with the band I still think it is important to thank anyone and everyone who ever came to see a show, let us sleep on their floors or bought any of our merch. You are the people that made it possible for me experience things I would have never been able to. I also would like to thank any promoter that ever booked a show for Calico System. It is because of you that we were able to get as far as we did and it is a memory that will never be forgotten. We are talking about doing a farewell tour in October in select cities that I myself will be apart of. I am being as sincere as I possibly can by saying THANK YOU for the support and good times."

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Excerpts Of Manson Interview Posted Online

Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with Marilyn Manson. An excerpt from the chat follows:

Ultimate-Guitar.com: You recently got back from a successful European tour, how was it?

Manson: It was pretty phenomenal. I am really happy to be back into performing again after making this record, a record that I didn't know whether I wanted to make. But of course after I made it, I was very happy with it and to perform it on this tour, I'm feeling more excited, energized and inspired I think than I can remember. So I'm in a really good spot and am ready to start the American tour and ready to kick ass.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Did you find that making "Eat Me, Drink Me" proved to be some sort of therapy for you?

Manson: I don't think it was really that simple, but looking back it's hard to really relate to how I was before I started making the record. And in making the record I think it's probably the best description of how I really felt. Because for the first time, I let my guard down and I wrote exactly at the moment of how I was feeling on pretty much every song. I suppose ultimately it was a salvation of some sorts because if I didn't make the record, we wouldn't be talking right now. I'm pretty convinced of that. I know it's pretty clichéd to say I know the record really changed me and it was cathartic because it was a little bit. But it's less easy to explain than just that. I think I was really confused as I wasn't sure if I believed in myself anymore. But it just took a simple step of starting with one song — "Just A Car Crash Away" — the first song I really sang on the album where I sang it through once, then once more recorded it. And that song became the first thing I did after a couple years of not wanting to do music. I played it to a few people later that same night because I just did it that one time and one person cried. So I realized that if I could make somebody feel something then that made me feel something to because I couldn't feel anything. And it made me realize I had to change.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: In what ways then did it effect a change in you?

Manson: Well, not so much in the obvious; the one-dimensional idea of myself, but in the way that I realized I had to change my surroundings and had to separate myself from everything. So then I could really focused on what would end up being the first real collaboration musically with Tim Skold. It was the first time the guitar player was actually playing almost a score to my life. He was playing exactly what I needed to hear and I didn't have to tell him what to play. And I wasn't accustomed to that because I'd always had a little bit more of a problem in steering people in a certain direction that I would want to go. So Tim and I fed off each other and it became the first real collaboration in my career and my life and that translated into my personal life too. I started realizing I had forced my perception of other people's feelings onto them. I had assumed or rejected the idea in the way I looked at life and romance, the idea that so many people ruin tomorrow by worrying about it today. I think you need to really have a kind of fearlessness. You need to be willing to drive off a cliff and when you have that fearlessness then you'll realize you don't have to that, which is the good part. And this helps make a change come about and that is the explanation for the difference in the musical approach to this record. I think it sounds more organic for the simple reason it was the way that I felt and it was the way I was making Tim feel because we were really close as he was the only person I saw on a daily basis last year.

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Skid Row Guitarist: You Gotta Have Fun Doing This

Marko Syrjälä of Metal-Rules.com recently conducted an interview with SKID ROW guitarist Scotti Hill. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Metal-Rules.com: After the first album you went into much heavier direction with "Slave to the Grind"...

Scotti: Well, it was natural, man. We were on that first tour for 16 months, that's a lot of time man! Our influences changed, we were listening to different kinds of music and those influences came through. Even though our first record came out in 1989, some songs were written years before. So it was a complete fresh batch of everything, fresh sound, you know? That was a natural direction we wanted to take it in, to make it heavier. Everyone else went the other way. We wanted to make it heavier. It's what we like and what feels good.

Metal-Rules.com: What comes first in your mind when you think about your third album, "Subhuman Race"?

Scotti: That was the beginning of the end I think! That was not an easy record to make, Bob Rock produced it and we recorded it in Canada and there was a lot of tension in the band, some people love it, some people don't pay attention to it. Personally, it brings back bad memories for me. There are some tracks on there which I think are really cool, but the overall sound of the record I don't like. I think it's kinda thin. But it was not a good time, a lot of tension in the studio and we weren't getting along.

Metal-Rules.com: How is your relationship with Rob Affuso now?

Scotti: I speak to Rob every few months or so, he comes to visit me in Florida about once a year he'll come and stay at my house. He's doing well, we're good friends, and he looks exactly the same!

Metal-Rules.com: Is he still in music business?

Scotti: He plays in a cover band and he does corporate events, he makes a shitload of cash! (Laughs) So good for him man. He's my good friend, I like him a lot. I wish nothing but the best for him.

Metal-Rules.com: What is the reason he is not involved with SKID ROW anymore?

Scotti: Well, when we started getting the band back together his head was somewhere else, he was into other things. It didn't seem like he was giving 100% so when we put SKID ROW back together we didn't bring him back.

Metal-Rules.com: Did you ever even think about asking him back?

Scotti: No, because he was involved with the OZONE MONDAY project and he had other business things going on and he didn't have enough time for it. So we got another drummer in and when we did the SKID ROW thing we didn't bring him along. He wasn't playing a lot so, he was going through his own thing, it just wasn't right for the band. No, he has never asked to come back. I think that he's happy doing what he's doing, I really do. He gets to play music and he's making good money.

Metal-Rules.com: There are still a lot of fans of yours who don't and never will accept Johnny [Solinger], what do you have to say for those people?

Scotti: I don't have anything to say to them, don't listen man! Start your own band, get your own singer! This ones ours, this is the one we are keeping! I don't expect everyone to like it, some people can't let go of the past. I mean how long was Sammy Hagar in VAN HALEN and there were still people going "We want Dave!" I would like to see Dave too but that's not happening yet. I think that any band that replaces such an important band member goes through the same thing. But you know what's funny? People either like SKID ROW or they like Sebastian. You can like it all, you know? You can like Sebastian and SKID ROW, go see him on Thursday and go see us on Friday! 'Cause I tell you, man, the bottom line is you gotta have fun doing this otherwise it will kill you. And it wasn't fun, he wasn't having fun and we weren't having fun. We didn't like each other, he didn't like us! So fuck it. It's not worth it, man! I understand that people might want to see a reunion and all that.

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Hallways of the Always Posts New Video Online

Experimental rock grinders Hallways of the Always recently posted their new music video for the track "Longevity" online in support of the new album "A Masturbatory Aid for the Enthusiastically Violent." Directed by David Stitchez (frontman of the group and director of the Hawg Jaw music video for ‘Torn Apart’) and shot by Ashley Meissner (veteran cinematographer on several S13N segments featuring Origin, Goatwhore, Cephalic Carnage, and others), the music video takes place in a kitchen and features no musical instruments.

The music video features the band jamming out on brooms, mops, a welcome mat and much more as they tread dangerously close to annihilating the kitchen. Meanwhile, a chicken and a gorilla with a mullet (played by drummer, Animal) arm wrestle over a watermelon that has been crossbred with a cucumber.

The video can be seen on YouTube or MySpace TV.

The video will also be available on a DVD ‘addendum’ to the album expected to be released in late ’07 / early ’08. More...

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Sotajumala Begins Recording New Album

Finnish death metal band SOTAJUMALA has entered the studio in Vaasa with producer Hannu Koivisto to begin recording its second album, "Teloitus" (Finnish for execution), due before the end of the year. A single will precede the album sometime in the fall.

Here is the projected "Teloitus" track listing:

01. Tappaja ja tapettu
02. Arkku vailla vainajaa
03. Kuolinjulistus
04. Riistetty viattomuus
05. Verellä kirjoitettu
06. Oikeutus
07. Kidutus
08. Teloitus

A studio blog has been launched at www.teloitus.info.

SOTAJUMALA's full-length debut, "Death Metal Finland", was released in 2004 via Woodcut Records.

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Gene Simmons To Be On "I'm A Celebrity..."?

Digital Spy reports that KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has signed up for the next installment of the British jungle survival series "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!", according to a report today.

The Daily Star claims that producers expect Simmons to spice up the jungle with his outrageous opinions and bad-boy antics.

Simmons is no stranger to reality TV; he has previously starred in Channel 4's "Rock School", which saw him turning a class of youngsters into a rock group.

It is rumored that Gene will be joined in Australia by former supermodel Janice Dickinson and TV psychic Sally Morgan when the show returns later this year.

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Kataklysm Cancel US Dates

This brief announcement has been posted on KATAKLYSM's official website:

"After much thought, KATAKLYSM have decided to cancel the few dates they had lined up with DEVILDRIVER next month, in favor to enter the studio."

Comments guitarist J-F Dagenais: "I think we - all in the band - looking forward to hitting the road again and raise mayhem, but there's a lot of magic that just created with the writing process and all of us are too much into it to break the mood and progress. My studio is ready and we decided to start recording the new album 'Prevail' on August 15 and work on it til we leave for our European tour at the end of September. We also decided that we will mix the album in January in Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, THE BLACK DHALIA MURDER), which we are looking forward to. Myself and Jason will make sure the album is as flawless as possible with a crushing production!! So for the many fans that were hitting up our MySpace and website, looking forward to seeing us live this summer... we sincerely apologize but it's for a good cause, trust me. On the other side of things, we have some very serious offers for November and December so we are planning on hitting the road in the States then. There's some big things in the horizon. We will keep you posted!"

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Panic Cell Add Birmingham And Welsh Dates To Tour

British heavy rockers Panic Cell have recently added two more dates to their upcoming headlining tour. The schedule is now as follows:

MORE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED - Support to be confimed

7 Oct Central Station - Wrexham WALES

8 Oct The Corporation - Sheffield ENGLAND

9 Oct Sugar Complex - Margate ENGLAND

11 Oct Waterfront - Arbroath SCOTLAND

12 Oct Cathouse - Glasgow SCOTLAND

13 Oct Bar Academy - Birmingham ENGLAND

14 Oct Little Civic - Wolverhampton ENGLAND

16 Oct Sugarmill - Stoke ENGLAND

17 Oct The Underworld - London ENGLAND

18 Oct Zodiac - Oxford ENGLAND

19 Oct Rock City - Nottingham ENGLAND

20 Oct Damnation Festival - with Kreator, Amen, Orange Goblin, Leeds Uni - Leeds ENGLAND

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Stuck Mojo Podcast Available

In a new podcast available at www.dukerocks.com, Rich, Mike, Sean, Rodney and Big Drew participate in a Mojo roundtable. The band talks about moving out of their rehearsal space of 15 years and the discovery of some old Mojo flyers from some of their first shows. These flyers prompt some reminiscing of the early days, including stories about how the band members met and later pushed lawnmowers together. Rich and Mike talk about their first guitars and why it's a blessing to have your champagne pink Ibanez stolen.

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Slayer Catalogue To Be Re-Issued

SLAYER singer/bassist Tom Araya has told Gary Graff of Billboard.com that in addition to the recently released new version of "Christ Illusion", Sony BMG's Legacy imprint will be re-releasing SLAYER's catalog, although no release dates or information about bonus material have been determined.

SLAYER is gearing up for its tour with MARILYN MANSON, which begins July 25 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Araya told Billboard.com the group is "going for an all-brutal set" that will feature songs SLAYER hasn't played in awhile, including "Bitter Peace" and "Ghosts of War". "We've been playing mostly the standards on this trip," Araya said, "so we kind of dug a little deeper and added a couple more to make it a little heavier."

As for the unlikely pairing with MANSON, Araya told Billboard.com, "you take a deep breath and go, 'Alright, let's see what happens.' I'm not a MANSON fan; it isn't bad, not my cup of tea. I'm not really a fan of it, but certainly Kerry (King, SLAYER's guitarist) is. And I would assume there are some SLAYER fans that are MANSON fans, and vice versa.

"What I really expect is a majority of the audience to be of looky-loos — people who wouldn't normally go to a MANSON show or normally go to a SLAYER show, but since it's one package, 'Let's kill two birds with one stone.' They want to see it 'cause it's such a strange bill — 'What's gonna happen? Let's check it out.' I'm just hoping nothing goes bad."

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W.A.S.P. Announce More European Tour Dates

According to WASParmy.com, W.A.S.P. has announced the first dates for the second part of its "Dominator" European tour beginning in October. The tour sees the band visiting the U.K., Germany and Scandinavia, with more territories to be added during the coming weeks. The tour will be preceeded by the release of a special-edition "Dominator" digipack featuring a 3D front cover.

Oct. 02 - Osterode, GER - Stadthalle
Oct. 14 - Budapest, HUN - Wigwam
Oct. 23 - Bochum, GER - Zeche
Oct. 29 - Glasgow, UK - Garage
Oct. 31 - Dudley, UK - JB's
Nov. 01 - Manchester, UK - MDH
Nov. 02 - London, UK - Astoria
Nov. 03 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
Nov. 05 - Newcastle, UK - University

Fan-filmed video footage of W.A.S.P.'s June 23, 2007 performance at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany has been posted on YouTube:

"Wild Child": Video
"Take Me Up": Video

W.A.S.P. last month called off its U.S. tour (which included ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY on many of the dates) "due to its North American label losing its distribution," according to a posting on the band's web site. The tour will be rescheduled to a later undisclosed date.

W.A.S.P.'s latest album, "Dominator" (Demolition Records), recently entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 72.

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Sepultura Guitarist Issues Another Update

SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser has issued the following update:

"We just came from beautiful Slovenia to play at the Earthshaker Fest [in Germany]; we close the day tomorrow [Thursday, July 19].

"In Slovenia I've got an incredible adventure, [which was] totally [unexpected].

"My mom is from Slovenia, she was born in the city of Maribor and came down to Brazil when she was four years old, so I'm Slovenian-Brazilian, but I don't know how to speak the language which is very hard. Lately I've been more in touch with my family in Slovenia, in Maribor and Ljubljana. So, my cousins came to visit and see the show at the Metalcamp festival in Tolmin, and for my surprise they arranged a small visit to a cave that was very close to the festival grounds. This cave was the inspiration that Dante Aliguieri had to write Hell on 'The Divine Comedy'. He was here on exile from his city Venezia in the year of 1319. He stayed in Goriza nearby and he made the visit to the cave during those days. Today the cave is a touristic [attraction] visited by many people and is called Dante Jama (Dante's Cave). We went inside the cave with the help of a guide who took us to a big galeria, about 600 meters inside. Very cold, humid and dirty, I felt like Dante giving his firsts steps towards Hell, it was an amazing feeling. At the Galeria, the guide asked us to turn the lights of our helmets off and he started palying a local typical flute. It was totally, dark, we couldn't see anything, just the little drops of water falling from the top, little bats flying around and the music...amazing! It was a great surprise, prepared from my cousins knowing the influence Dante has on our music."

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Scorpions To Do 90 Date US Tour

SCORPIONS guitarist Matthias Jabs has revealed that the band will be touring the US in 2008: "Yes we are coming to the US," he says, "but just for a few shows this year (we try to be everywhere in the world within 2007). Azoff management is already working on a 90 dates tour for next year with a great package in the US."

As previously reported, the Scorpions' new album, Humanity - Hour 1, will be released by Universal Music in North America on August 28th to coincide with the band's Canadian live dates. The album is out now in most territories via Ariola Records.

Upcoming Scorpions live dates include:

July
21 - Augsburg, Germany - Messe Augsburg
28 - Pentrich, UK - Rock & Blues Festival **
29 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Apollo **
30 - London, UK - Hammersmith Apollo **

August
3 - Klaksvik, Faroe Islands - Summarfestivalur
9 - Manaus, Brazil - tba
11 - Recife, Brazil - Chevrolet Hall
14 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Credicard Hall
17 - Monterrey, México - Arena
18 - Puebla, México - Siglo XXI
19 - Leon, México - Poliforum
22 - México City, México - Auditório Nacional
25 - Shawinigan, QC - tba ***
26 - Toronto, ON at the Molson Amphitheater
28 - Ottawa, ON - LeBreton Festival Park ***
30 - Montreal, QC - Vieux-Port (Quai Jacques-Cartier) ***

September
1 - Chicoutimi, QC - tba ***
4 - Sault Ste Marie, MI - Kewadin Casino Hotel
6 - Clarkston, Michigan - DTE Energy Music Theatre
9 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre
10 - Calgary, AB - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
12 - Vancouver, BC - Orpheum Theatre
14 - Kelseyville, CA - Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa
15 - Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre
16 - Indio, CA - Fantasy Springs Casino
21 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint - Hard Rock Hotel
22 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort And Casino

November
28 - Bordeaux, France - Patinoire Meriadeck
29 - Toulous, France - Zenith
30 - Clermont, France - Zenith

* with ULI JON ROTH
** with MICHAEL SCHENKER, Uli Jon Roth
*** with THE ROOM

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Twenty Arrested At Tool Show

According to the Asbury Park Press, New Jersey State Police said there were about 20 arrests made Wednesday (July 18) at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, a night on which alternative rock group TOOL performed.

Capt. Al Della Fave, spokesman for the State Police, said that total included arrests for underage drinking and possession of marijuana, but he was not able Thursday to provide a more detailed breakdown of arrests.

That total is less than half the number of arrests made before and during a June 25 concert headlined by THE FRAY. A June 6 FALL OUT BOY show generated similar results by law enforcement. Most of the arrests at both concerts were for underage drinking.

Wednesday's show was the latest in the series of arts center concerts this summer that are expected to draw an under-21 crowd and consequently are slated for extra police presence.

The beefed-up security was part of a plan set by the State Police, the Turnpike Authority, which owns the amphitheater, and Live Nation, which leases it.

The plan to curb underage drinking was put into action in June after 15 concertgoers, 13 of them minors, were brought to Bayshore Community Hospital for alcohol-related illnesses during and after the GWEN STEFANI performance May 18.

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Poison Frontman To Do Online Chat

POISON frontman Bret Michaels will answer fans' questions during an hour-long web-chat next Tuesday, July 24 between noon and 1:00 p.m. EST, hosted by The Washington Post. The web-chat page is now live and accepting questions for Bret, so check it out and get your questions into the mix at this location

According to VH1, Sunday night's (July 15) premiere of "Rock of Love with Bret Michaels" was seen by a total of 1.6 million viewers and 1.1 million in the 18-49 demo, which is 22% more than the "Flavor of Love" season 1 premiere.

The series focuses on the never-before-revealed private side of POISON frontman Bret Michaels. Residing with Michaels in his Los Angeles rock palace, 20 women will be tested on their devotion to him and their love and understanding of all that is rock 'n' roll. To help narrow the field, Michaels will put these women through various challenges. The ladies who win these challenges will join Michaels on some wild and exclusive excursions, while those who can't hang like true backstage VIPs will be escorted out in bona fide rock star fashion.

Whether it's partying on the tour bus, jetting-off to a sun-kissed beach, or hanging with Michaels' celebrity friends, this 10-part series follows these lucky ladies on the rollercoaster ride of their lives. They'll all get a taste of living the rock star life, but in the end, only one lucky lady will win an all-access pass to his heart.

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Amy Lee Talks Lineup Changes, And Family Values

EVANESCENCE frontwoman Amy Lee recently took part in a conference call with members of the media to answer questions about the group's recent lineup changes and its participation in the Family Values tour. The interview follows here in its entirety:

Q: So obviously, it's been a dramatic couple of months, three months here, with everything that's gone on. What is your general sense of things and what happened and, I guess, were you surprised by the way John and Rocky kind of handled things?

Amy: Well, I wasn't really, yes, I guess I was surprised that things are handled, but it's something that had been building for a long time. I wasn't even sure what you were talking about when you said "dramatic couple of months." I was like, "Hey, which thing is he talking about?" I am also married and I'm stoked about that. It all sort of happened in the same weekend, actually, with the lineup change and getting hitched and all that stuff and finding Will and Troy. But yes, honestly, it's once again been something that is very, very good for the band and we are feeling a lot healthier. We're out there enjoying each other and we're out there because we want to be out there, not because we have to be or because we'd rather be somewhere else. It's made everything a lot better. It's made the shows definitely a lot better because everyone enjoys playing the music, so everything feels really good right now.

Q: Do you see is this the line-up of EVANESCENCE now? Can you see making an album with Troy and Will?

Amy: Troy and Will are both very passionate and creative. I love playing with them. Actually, I feel like we are creative with the music that's already there, and I think there's definitely potential there for us to write together at some point. I would love to. I don't even know what to say right now. We just wanted to really work on making sure that the tour for the rest of "The Open Door" was set and we're set now. So, I just don't want to get in the way of what they want to do with DARK NEW DAY because I actually really admire and respect the band. I think their music is really great. I just want to leave it up to them, but we're definitely having a great time playing together and I hope we get to play together a lot more. I would write with both of them; I think they're very talented.

Q: Is there new music around yet for EVANESCENCE? More...

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Cremains' 1987 Thrash Demo Available For Download

The 1987 "Back From the Graves" demo cassette by forgotten Quebec thrashers CREMAINS has been made available for download at the Bang! Bang! metal demo blog.

According to the blog post, "this demo is CREMAINS' only output, and it's a shame. The vocal delivery of Chris Eldridge is unique, foreshadowing the weird mystical approach of Sylvain Houde in early KATAKLYSM. Most of the songwriting is furious thrashcore with loads of interesting changes, but there are moments like on the anthemic 'Nuclear Carnage' that resemble the black metal overkill of 'Pure Holocaust'-era IMMORTAL. This is a very cool demo, and although not influential due to its obscurity, it should have been."

Bang! Bang!, the weblog of Ian Christe (author of "Sound of the Beast" and host on Sirius Satellite Radio's Hard Attack), is dedicated to "celebrating the tradition of freely-traded heavy metal demo cassettes and preserving the pioneer spirit of the underground, one magnetic particle at a time."

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Fleshcrawl Ready "Structures of Death"

German Deathheads FLESHCRAWL finished recordings for their new album "Structures Of Death" back in May.

For the first time in the bands history FLESHCRAWL didn't record in Sweden, but in Studio Toninfusion in their home city of Ulm/Germany with Martin Schmitt on the soundboard. Pelle Saether at Studio Underground in Västeras, Sweden mixed and mastered the album once again.

“Structures Of Death" contains 12 in-your-face old school Death Metal songs with a lot of variation including "killer melodies and smashing, neckbreaking riffs of incomparable catchiness."

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Job For A Cowboy Talks About New Album

Chart Attack spoke with Job For A Cowboy about the band's history and their new album on Metal Blade Records. Here's an excerpt:

"While just barely in high school, JFAC released an EP titled Doom that lead singer Jonny Davy says was written when the band hadn't really found themselves."

"Our EP, Doom, we all wrote when we were really young, we were all just about 16, maybe 17. We just kind of threw songs together. We were really undeveloped as a band. So we had a couple of years to develop and tour and we learned so much and we grew up. The new album is a lot more focused and a lot more aggressive and heavily influenced on modern death metal, while the older EP has a lot of metalcore and hardcore aspects to it, and the new album definitely doesn't."

Genesis, the group's Metal Blade debut, clearly shows the growth and maturity since Doom. Although it's hardly a breakthrough death metal album, fans of the sub-genre who love their shit technical and brutal as hell will appreciate the progress the young lads from Arizona have made. But what stands out on the record more than the music is Davy's intricate songwriting and lyrics.

Even though Genesis isn't being promoted as a concept album, the songs clearly tell a story of technology, religion and corrupt government, and how they combine to lead to the end of civilization.

"I spent a really long time on the lyrics," says Davy, who's the band's sole songwriter. "At a pretty young age I realized that I was an atheist. Over time, I read up on a lot of religions and religious conspiracies and conspiracies in general.

"The record is actually about a biochip called the 'VeriChip' that's being implanted [into people] and used for medical identification and money currency purposes. People feel it's an invasion of privacy, and the other aspect is religious leaders have come out against it for fear that this is going to be a fulfillment of a prophecy in the Book Of Revelations.

"The VeriChip is actually being used today, and eventually they want to use it to implant in people's arms or hands. So let's say you walk to a grocery store and, instead of paying with money, you walk through a scanner and take the money out of your account. On the religious side, you can turn on American Christian television and they'll be talking about it on their little talk shows. Religious leaders fear that the Antichrist is going to use the chip to control every man and woman in America and later the whole world."

Read the full article at Chart Attack.

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ID: Exorcist Posts "Raadelma" Video Online

Finland's hardcore/metal band ID: EXORCIST has posted its video for the song "Raadelma" at this location (Windows Media). The track comes off the group's latest release, the "Flatline" EP, which was named "Album of the Week" by Finland's Imperiumi magazine. The clip was directed by band's singer Jaakko Mäntymaa.

"Flatline" is ID: EXORCIST's fifth self-financed CD. It was produced by main songwriter/guitarist Sami Hauru (also know by his work with DOMINATION BLACK, OMNIUM GATHERUM etc.).

Two full-length songs and another video (for song "Darkzone") are available at the ID: EXORCIST web site.

In other news, ID: EXORCIST has started to compose new material for its next release, tentatively due in early 2008.

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